Stolen dog killed on railway was 'taken as owner walked him and dumped on track'

Stolen dog killed on railway was 'taken as owner walked him and dumped on track'Zak, a 12-year-old Cairn Terrier-type dog, was being walked by owner Janet Collins' son, Ryan, and is said to have been seized by three youths who then fled the sceneNewsHolly Morgan and Zahra Khaliq News Reporter20:04, 20 Apr 2026Updated 20:17, 20 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesRyan Collins was walking Zak when he was approached by three youthsPolice have launched a probe after a dog who was allegedly stolen while being walked by his owner was later found dead on a railway track.‌The 12-year-old Cairn Terrier-type dog, named Zak, was being walked by owner Janet Collins' son, Ryan, who is described as a vulnerable adult. The pair had travelled along the Taff Trail between Mountain Ash and Penrhiwceiber in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, when they were approached by three youths.‌The youths allegedly seized the dog's lead before fleeing the scene. Family friend Susan Grandon claimed the perpetrators later abandoned Zak on a railway line, where he was struck by a train and killed.‌View 3 ImagesZac was 12 years old when he died after being hit by a train(Image: Susan Grandon)Within hours of the dog being found dead, the hashtag Justice4Zak was trending on Facebook, with local residents changing their profile pictures in a show of support.‌A major search operation, attended by family and friends, was initially launched after Zak was allegedly stolen, reports Wales Online.Owners Janet and Ryan have now requested privacy as they grieve their loss.View 3 ImagesThe hashtag #Justice4Zak began trending across Facebook just hours after the tragic discovery(Image: Susan Grandon)Article continues belowA South Wales Police spokesman said: "On Saturday, April 18, South Wales Police received a report of a dog being stolen from its owner in Penrhiwceiber, Mountain Ash. We have since learnt that Zak the dog was sadly found dead the following day."An investigation into the incident is on...